Opening Remarks

Let’s do this. Before you read on, check all your ideas, ideals, and prior notions about politics at the door.

I didn’t write this so you’d have little fuzzies in your stomach when you’re done reading this. I wrote this because I care. I care when I see hate, anger, and bitterness among believers, especially when it’s directed at one another in the church body.

So, if and when you read this, and if and when it speaks any truth to your life, please act on it. Don’t let this be another blog post you read and do nothing about.

Sit back, try and relax, it’s going to be a lengthy read…

So take this or leave it. After all, I am just a 26 year old, Campus Life Director from Berne, Indiana. I’m only older than few, and wiser than even fewer.

Division

Reason #1 I hate politics is this evil word I like to call division. My root of hate towards politics all stems back to this issue.

Raise your hand if you’ve seen/heard these words before:

“You can’t be a Christian if you are democrat/republican.”

A quick google search on both, “Are republicans Christians?” or “Are democrats Christians?” bring up top ten reasons why each party isn’t.

There are even books out there…

I see tweets and Facebook posts from people saying these things, people that I know personally. It makes me squirm.

I see things like this and it literally breaks my heart. Not only is it 100% inaccurate, it causes division among believers. When did this become acceptable?

I have a bumper stick on my guitar case, that I love….

Here’s a reality check…I have christian brothers, sisters, and family who fall on either side of the political lines. Just because they choose to vote one way or another gives neither you or I a right to question their salvation. I hope we aren’t in a place that we question someone’s eternal destination based upon how they punch a voting ballot. Our salvation is determined by our relationship with Christ, period.

“Our main political task, as a local church community, is to follow the mission of God in the church and thus to embody Jesus faithfully in our place and to work with our neighbors toward the health and flourishing of our neighborhood.”

When I see believers attacking other believers for their voting preference, I don’t see how this is helping build the church and it’s community. I struggle to see how it is building others up in the body. In fact, I see it doing it the opposite. I see it dividing believers.

We can share our differences of opinion, that is fine, but when it causes divison, strife, and hatred, we have crossed a line.

I see this happening far to much. This makes me hate politics.

So next time we see this happening, or see ourselves partaking in such talk… let’s step back, remove ourselves from the situation, and ask the simple question, “Am I bringing unity or divison to the body?”

Hot Button Issue’s

After division, comes these issues we like to call, “Hot Button” issues. I hate them. I guess the reason I hate them is because, well, they cause division. I am not a black and white thinker when it comes to such topics as gay marriage, war, abortion, welfare, and so on. Even saying that, I’m sure many of you immediately thought, “Now Michael, if you’re a Christian, you have to be black and white on such topics.” If that was the case, please refer to my previous several paragraphs. We can disagree without causing division. We can disagree and still all be in the family of Christ. My view on war, abortion, or gay marriage does not dictate where I will be spending eternity. My view on war, abortion, or gay marriage does not get me a “Get Into Heaven” card. These are simply my opinions that I have formed after praying through these things for myself. I don’t claim them as absolute truths, just simply where I find myself at the moment.

Let’s take a look at what I mean:

Gay Marriage

Our country was founded on the freedom of religion. We are free in America to practice whatever religious beliefs we would like. I 100% agree with this.

My Christian beliefs tell me that marriage is between a man and a woman. I 100% agree with this.

So what happens when a homosexual couple, practicing a different religion other than Christianity, wants to get married? If their religion tells them it’s fine to do so, who am I to tell them they are not allowed? They are American citizens, just as much as I am. After all, we were founded on the freedom of religion, right?

I think we have a misconception that church is the one that marries people. The church preforms weddings, which is the religious ceremony side of things. You go to the courthouse to get “married.” Every single person that wants to get married has to do so by the state.

This happens when an atheist and a pagan get married. They don’t go to a church, they go to a courthouse, and get married. This is where they form a legal bond.

I know some people get hung up the word itself. Marriage. They think that allowing homosexuals to get “married” will defile the word and the sanctity of marriage. I think we as heterosexuals have done a good enough job at that; After all, our divorce rate hovers right around 50%. Homosexuals are wanting to get married too. They aren’t looking for divorces.

So I am torn …

War

Let’s just get this out in the open, I am a pacifist. This means I oppose war. I have received no greater criticism from any other personal stance than this one. I oppose war for several reasons. I think when Jesus tells us that we need to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us, He didn’t mean that we should drop bombs on them. What I think He meant was, we should love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. I didn’t just come to this stance over night or just at the drop of a hat. I’ve spent countless hours thinking, praying, reading, and trying to learn what Christ calls us to do in scripture (see Sermon on the Mount). But I’m not trying to persuade you to be a pacifist.

I also believe that war is a necessary evil for our (or any) government. Without war, armies, militaries, or troops, America wouldn’t be the country it is today. A country will not survive without protection or war. Where would America be without war?

So I am torn …

Abortion

Don’t worry. I am not going to say I think abortion is ok.

I believe, as a Christian, abortion is wrong. It is the taking of a life/potential life.

I also understand that there is a debate for when life starts, and it is not 100% proven one way or the other (if it was, we wouldn’t be having this discussion…I realize people feel very strongly about this, so please don’t view this as me down playing this). I know what I believe to be truth, but that truth isn’t shared by everyone. Therein lies the rub.

I believe that life starts at conception because thats what my faith tells me. I know several people that don’t share that belief, and they are still Christians. Yes, you heard me correctly; I have friends that believe abortion should be legal, and still have a personal relationship with Jesus. It’s possible. I know them. We talk regularly.

So I am torn once again…

I could keep going, but I think you get the idea.

Here is the thing, when I think about these “Hot Button” topics, I can’t help but be conflicted. When I look at them objectively… my faith and politics clash. The problem, then, is I find myself wanting the government to press my morals and personal beliefs onto the nation. I believe as Christians, we wouldn’t want the government to press opposing religious views on us, so I don’t know why it’s ok for us to expect them to push Christian views on others (that’s essentially why America was founded, freedom of religion….). I don’t think this is the job of the government. (Insert argument about America being founded on Christian principals here)

The governments job is not to dictate and set the moral compass for the country.

So the next time you find yourself in a heated debate about why our welfare system sucks or why abortion should be illegal, try to remember it is possible for someone to have difference in opinion and that maybe yours (or mine) might not be right opinion. Maybe, after looking at these issues, it’s ok to disagree. It’s not the end of the word if you think we should be in Afghanistan and your friend thinks we shouldn’t even have a military. After all, we don’t have all the answers. At least I don’t… I’m not Joel Runyon.

Hope

I hate politics because I believe they give a false sense of hope.

Our hope should not be found in this or any other election.

Our hope should not be found in which party wins.

Our hope should not be found in any presidential candidate.

As the old hymn sings, “My hope is built on nothingless than Jesus’s blood and righteousness….”

If we want to see something change in America, it has to start and come from the church. If we want to see answers/solutions to these Hot Button topics, it has to come from the church.

If we want to see a lowering rate of abortions, I would hope we are stepping up and are willing to adopt kids that mothers are thinking about aborting, instead of just shaking our fingers at them and saying, “You shouldn’t do that!” We need to be volunteering at places like the Hope Clinic, walking alongside mothers and informing them they have an alternative to getting an abortion. If we want to see a decline in abortions, it’s going to come from people having a relationship with Jesus, not punching a vote for a candidate that, in all likelihood, isn’t going to make any changes.

If we want to see a decline in people on welfare, it has to be the church that helps people get back on their feet. We can’t rely on the government to solve our poverty needs. That’s not where our hope is at. My hope is in a church that is able to give out of our abundance to a starving people (literally and spiritually) around us.

Here me when I say this…If our hope is found anywhere besides the body of Christ, the church, time and time again we will be let down.

Wrap It Up

I know this was long. I know it was a soap box. I know I probably lost half of my readers (all 5 of you) when I started talking about gay marriage.

That’s ok.

I didn’t write this to argue with people. I didn’t write this to stir up controversy.

I wrote it hoping that, as we get closer and closer to the election, we Christians may be defined by our love.

Not what we stand against. Not how we vote. Not if we vote.

I hate politics because they define us, but let them define us no more.

We are first and foremost Christ followers… the rest will take care of itself.